Medley Opens in Waves, So Plan More Than One Visit

On September 26, an Appen Media photographer caught a construction vehicle at Johns Creek Parkway and McGinnis Ferry Road carrying a tree. Workers and equipment were still all over the site. About a month later, on October 29 at 10 a.m., Medley holds its ribbon cutting in the Plaza. It's the $560 million, 43-acre development from Toro Development Company, the team behind Avalon in Alpharetta.

Most of the coverage treats October 29 as the big day. The tenant timeline tells a different story. What Now Atlanta's September 30 roundup splits Medley's businesses into two groups: 28 retailers and restaurants opening on October 29, and others "expected to open in the coming months." Several of the names that make Medley feel new to Johns Creek are in the second group. So the Medley you walk into on opening day won't be the same Medley you'll find by winter.

Who's on the list for October 29

Here's how the restaurant and shop lineup splits, based on What Now's September 30 update, owner interviews, and Visit Johns Creek's guide.

The Nest is on the day-one list because owner Jordan Segal told Business Debut in May that he expected to open with the 10 a.m. grand opening. What Now's roundup says "among others," so the 28 opening-day businesses include more names than appear here. Visit Johns Creek says openings will roll out on different dates and that details can change before the big week. Check each business's hours before you go.

Trader Joe's is the one business you don't have to wait for. The store at 1000 Medley Blvd. has been open since June 11, from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

Opening day's newest arrival comes from Chattanooga

The biggest debut on opening day is STIR. The Chattanooga oyster-and-cocktail restaurant opens on the Plaza as its first Georgia location. Its operator, SquareOne Holdings, also runs STIR locations in Chattanooga, Knoxville, Charlotte and Raleigh. Next door is Tonic House, a new standalone cocktail bar facing the Plaza from the same company. Medley is the first location announced for it.

Much of the rest of the day-one lineup will feel familiar to anyone who eats around North Fulton. Rena's Italian Fishery & Grill comes from downtown Alpharetta, where owner and chef Darren Henderson also runs Crust Pasta & Pizzeria. Johns Creek is The Nest Cafe's third metro Atlanta location, after downtown Alpharetta and downtown Crabapple. Summit Coffee is a family-owned company from North Carolina. A 2023 report put its first Atlanta café in Roswell. Visit Johns Creek points out that Summit pours beer and wine alongside its organic roasts.

That makes October 29 an easy first visit. You can have oysters at STIR, a cocktail at Tonic House and gelato at Amorino, then walk back to the deck. Visit Johns Creek describes Amorino's gelato as roses.

The intown restaurants arrive in the second wave

The names in the second wave are the reason to come back. Three well-known intown Atlanta restaurants are opening their first suburban locations at Medley, and What Now lists all three as coming later.

• Northern China Eatery. Visit Johns Creek calls it an Atlanta dumpling institution. Owner Fan Zhang runs the Doraville and BeltLine locations and The Dumpling Factory at Westside Paper, which makes Johns Creek his third Northern China Eatery.
• Tabla. This is the Indian restaurant's third location, after Midtown and Buckhead. The Johns Creek plan includes an indoor/outdoor bar and weekend street-food pop-ups.
• Fadó Irish Pub. Medley is the first suburban location for the pub, which started in Buckhead.

The dates for these have changed. In February, Business Debut reported that Fadó's CEO, Kieran McGill, was aiming for October 26. That same month, What Now reported that Northern China Eatery would open alongside Medley on October 29. The September 30 roundup moves both into the "coming months" group, without a new date for either.

The second wave also includes two Alpharetta favorites from Chef Julio Delgado's Concept 2 Table Hospitality Group. Fogón and Lions is listed as coming in the next few months. No source we found gives a date for Minnie Olivia, the wood-fired pizzeria he founded in Alpharetta. Five Daughters Bakery also has no published date. The bakery is owned by Isaac and Stephanie Meek and their five daughters and is known for its 100-layer donut.

The Plaza calendar fills the gap

Medley isn't counting on restaurants alone to bring people back. The middle of the development is a 25,000-square-foot Plaza with a large stage and screen, surrounded by restaurants. In The Creek's September 28 feature, Cox of Toro Development Company said the company expects to host 100 to more than 200 events.

These are the dates published so far:

1. Wednesday, October 28, 6 to 10 p.m.: Medley Unveiled. A ticketed preview that benefits the Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra. Tickets cost $150 early bird and $175 standard. They include tastings, craft cocktails, a first-look tour, dueling pianos in the Plaza, a DJ and live violinist at the Tree Bar, valet and a gift bag.
2. Thursday, October 29, 10 a.m.: Ribbon cutting. Free, in the Plaza, with stores and restaurants opening right after.
3. Friday, October 30, 6 to 10 p.m.: Party on the Plaza. A free, family-friendly Halloween block party with live music. Costumes encouraged.
4. November 23: Outdoor ice rink opens.
5. November 27: Merry Medley holiday celebration.

Tickets for Medley Unveiled and the full lineup are on Medley's grand opening page. After the holidays, the recurring schedule takes over. Medley Clubhouse holds monthly playdates for kids, Movement at Medley offers weekly outdoor fitness, CineMedley shows a movie once a month, and Medley Music Nights run weekly. The Johns Creek Symphony Orchestra is coming back for monthly Symphony Sundays. Events still under consideration include a Lunar New Year celebration, a Masters golf-themed event and a summer solstice event. Cox told The Creek that some may become annual traditions and others may not.

So the first year is built to change. Cox said Toro will spend the next year figuring out what makes sense, and The Creek describes the first year as an experiment of sorts. Expect more restaurants to open around a schedule that's still taking shape.

Parking and getting there

Medley's address is 2140 Medley Boulevard, at Johns Creek Parkway and McGinnis Ferry Road. Visitors can use the on-site parking decks or valet. Toro told The Creek it plans to use its website and social media to explain which garages and surface lots are closest to which destinations. A concierge desk in the center of the development will help when plans go sideways, and Cox calls it Medley's "heartbeat." We haven't seen a published traffic plan or street-closure notice for opening weekend, so check Medley's social channels before you leave the house on October 29.

If the Plaza is packed, the Boardwalk at Town Center is right next door, with public parking at Johns Creek City Hall, 11360 Lakefield Drive. It's a separate city park with a trail by the pond, an amphitheater, plazas and overlooks.

What's planned for 2027 and 2028

Phase two, called Encore, is scheduled for 2027. What Now reports it will add 408 apartments, 20,000 square feet of retail and a 150-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio hotel. The hotel is scheduled for 2028, with Chops Lobster Bar planned as its ground-floor restaurant. For this fall and winter, the dates to put on your calendar are the October 29 ribbon cutting, the November 23 rink opening, Merry Medley on November 27, and whenever Northern China Eatery, Tabla and Fadó announce their opening days.

Want help deciding which Medley visit to make first, or curious how a development like this changes life on your side of Johns Creek? The Cole Team with REAL Broker follows North Fulton openings like this one closely, and we're glad to talk them through. Schedule a Call and bring your questions about Medley.